Back in the early 1980s, Leeds had more of a reputation for a hooligan element rather than the quality of their football.

The heady days of the Don Revie era where the club was one of the best in the country were well behind them by the time they met Cambridge United in Division Two (now Championship) following their relegation from the top flight.

And it was a bitterly cold, snowy day when player-manager Eddie Gray brought his side to the Abbey for the first time in February 1983.

Not that there was much to warm the cockles on the pitch in a goalless draw judging by Kevin Palmer’s comment in his book Cambridge United: The League Era 1970-2005.

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“Any potential hooligans from Leeds are too cold and bored by the end to cause trouble,” was his withering assessment of a game that saw John Docherty’s team complete their sixth straight clean sheet at home in the league.

Spring had sprung by the time Leeds returned to Newmarket Road the following season in April 1984.

But at the time United, now with John Ryan at the helm, had gone 27 games without a league win and were bottom of the table.

Had things gone their way that day though, the unwanted record of 31 matches for the longest winless streak in the Football League would have remained in Crewe’s hands – Alexandra had gone 30 games without victory in 1957.